Delray Plans Mlk Drive Work With King Quotes

The design for the cultural loop and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive project are under way in Delray Beach, and residents can expect to see the completed project in a few months.

The project will be along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Northwest Second Street, from Fourth to Fifth Avenue, said City Engineer Randal Krejcarek.

Ideas for the design came from a committee of city residents, leaders and staff. Kimley-Horn and Associates was hired to refine the design, which will be completed within the next few weeks, Krejcarek said. Once the design is complete, the bid documents will be put together and the project will "get going as soon as we can," he said.

There are two phases planned for the project, and the Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency is funding $750,000, the city is paying $300,000, and there's a county grant for about $100,000, said Diane Colonna, the CRA's executive director.

No money is currently budgeted for phase 2, which would cost about $850,000.

That will consist of planing more trees, landscape lighting and irrigation, sidewalk improvements, a small park at the Intracoastal Terminus, some commemorative features and decorative street lighting, said Jeff Costello, the CRA's assistant director.

The first phase will feature landscaping, curb extensions, accented up-lighting, different Martin Luther King Jr. quotes engraved along the sidewalk, and two small pocket parks which consist of small rest areas with a bench, Krejcarek said.

"The committee really wanted to provide some commemorative elements for Dr. King, and we're doing that in the form of 16 plaques embedded into the sidewalk, and some other elements are going to help commemorate the corridor. That's pretty unique," said Jonathan Haigh, landscape architect for Kimley-Horn.

Eventually, some interactive features might be added to the park, said Lula Butler, the city's community improvement director who was the staff liaison on the committee.

Butler calls the project a "civic pride piece" for the city.

"It was named after such a significant person, [and we wanted to make sure he was] honored in the right way," she said. "And it needs to be an education piece that children can interact with and understand what is going on."

The committee has been meeting for a year and a half and has had two community meetings to share the plans, she said.

"One of the community meetings, 72 people showed up and made suggestions. It was a wonderful turnout," Butler said. "We also interviewed and spoke directly to residents living along the corridor. I think it's going to be a street that ... all of us will be proud of, and the design will give [King] a lot of honor."